Salvia divinorum
produces unique effects that are difficult to accurately describe by
comparing them to those produced by other psychoactive plants or
drugs. The primary psychoactive chemical in Salvia divinorum is
Salvinorin A, but there may be other minor chemicals that affect its
action. Effects vary, based on dose and method of ingestion such as
smoking salvia. Effects range from very light, at lower doses, to
overwhelmingly strong at higher doses. While Salvia Divinorum effects
are usually grouped with other visionary-class psycho actives such as
smoked DMT, its effects are so radically different that such
comparisons can often just lead to misunderstandings. Some effects
that have been reported are:

Loss of
physical coordination

Uncontrollable
laughter

Visual
alterations or visions

Experiencing
multiple realities

A
contemplative sense of peace

Sense of
profound understanding

Dream-like
veneer over the world

Sense of total
confusion or madness

Seeing or
becoming part of a tunnel

Loss of sense
of awareness as an individual

Experiencing a
"non-Euclidean" geometry

Sense of
flying, floating, twisting, or turning

Feeling of
being immersed in an energy field

Feeling of
being connected to a larger "whole"

Feeling of
being underground or underwater

Appearing to
travel to other places and/or times

Becoming
inanimate objects (a wall, stairs, a couch, etc.)

Viewing
patterns or shapes that are tube-like, snake-like, or worm-like

Despite the
fact that Salvia divinorum is, on rare occasions, marketed as a "legal
Cannabis substitute", the effects of smoking salvia are not
generally perceived as being like those produced by Cannabis. However,
many miscellaneous herbs are touted as 'cannabis substitutes' without
any significant similarity to Cannabis effects. S. divinorum is not
considered a 'party drug', as its effects are not particularly
conducive to social interaction, tend towards the non-verbal, and can
often be extremely disconcerting and frightening. Those experienced
with Salvia divinorum generally use it in more quiet settings for
introspective contemplation and meditation. The expectations and
interests of those using it for the first time vary considerably, but
often include seeking the novelty of a new psychoactive experience.
From most reports, only a small portion of those who get a strong
Salvinorin experience return very often to that strange space.

The duration of
effects depends on the method of consumption and the amount consumed.
It has been reported lasting from about 15 minutes to over 3 hours.
Generally, smoked salvia effects come on quickly, peak for 5-20
minutes, and then begin to subside. The oral and sublingual methods
take longer to begin effects and last longer. Although there is a
small number of people who report effects lasting over 4 hours from
oral/quid use, the large majority of people find most effects taper
off before 2 hours.

It is almost certainly not like what you
expect. Even if you have considerable experience with other psychoactive
drugs, you will find that salvia is ALLOT different from what you may
have felt or encountered before. Salvia is unique, and smoking it is
best understood on its own terms, and not by comparing it with stories
of experiences with other substances. Salvia is not a recreational drug,
rather, it is best used by those wishing to explore deep meditative
states, spiritual realms, mysticism, the nature of consciousness and
reality, or the possibilities of shamanistic healing. Experiences will
vary with the person, and setting as well as with dose. It
produces a short-lived inebriation that is very different from that of
alcohol. However, like alcohol it interferes with the ability to drive,
produces in coordination (ataxia), and may produce slurred speech.

The inebriation, at low doses, can facilitate
aesthetic and sensual appreciation. However, the experience is not
marijuana-like, and smoking salvia is not a marijuana substitute.
At somewhat higher doses, visionary trances occur. The lowest level
visions consist mainly of closed-eye imagery somewhat similar to the
phenomena that many people experience when falling asleep. These tend to
be two dimensional faint images. The term "eye candy" is an appropriate
description of the interesting closed eye visuals that are not confused
with reality. At this level communication with others is still easy and
one can move about although you may feel a bit uncoordinated. With a
higher dose vivid visual images occur even with eyes open, and with eyes
closed one may completely enter the visionary world, and it will seem
quite real, but upon opening ones eyes one will reestablish contact with
ones surroundings. Speech patterns may be interfered with and
communication is can be difficult. At even higher doses, one will remain
conscious but completely enters an inner realm and loses all contact
with ones actual surroundings. Some people may move around in this deep
trance state and for this reason a sitter is required for anyone seeking
to explore such deep levels. With very high dosage a brief period of
unconsciousness or at least the inability to subsequently remember the
experience will occur. It is useful to have a scale to describe salvia
experiences.

I first ordered the 5X
extract. Me and a few friends stayed in the first effect stage.
After smoking almost a quarter of a gram, with salvia leave in a
water bong, I got some pretty intense effects, but only in the
stage of lsd-like effects.